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Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers
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Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers

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May 2010 | 184 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers explores the complex nature of addiction and the challenges involved in responding effectively through policy and practice. It examines the biopyschosocial elements of addiction to substances (including alcohol) and, draws together key research findings from these fields to present a new framework for integrating theory and practice.

The book argues that the best way to understand addictions is as examples of "complex self organising systems", which comprise many interacting component parts. In so doing, it addresses the problem of service users presenting with multiple needs (including poly drug use, mental health problems, criminal behaviour, unemployment and relationship difficulties) and the challenges that this poses for policy makers, services commissioners and practitioners alike.

This book fills the need for a text which makes the complex issues surrounding substance misuse accessible to both students and practitioners. As such, it fosters a multidisciplinary and critically reflective approach to policy and practice.

 
Introduction
 
Drugs and Drug Users in Context
 
The Policy Context and Legal Framework
 
From Disease to Dependency Syndrome
 
Harm Reduction Approaches
 
The Psychological Revolution
 
The Genetic Revolution and Disease Theory Revisited
 
Interventions and Equivocal Outcomes
 
Complex Adaptive Systems: A New Paradigm for Working with Addiction?
 
Pulling It All Together: An Extended Case Study

This is an excellent text as it is UK specific and also up to date. The easy-to-read style makes it accessible to both students and tutors, and we have adopted this book as a core text on our Degree in Addictions Counselling Course. Highly recommended.

Mr Trevor Smith
Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies, Bath University
July 12, 2011

A really good introductory text, clear accessible and engaging.

Ms Emma Sutton
School of Nursing, University of East Anglia
March 4, 2011

This is a useful text for this cohort of students as they work with people with substance misuse

Dr Shilpa Patel
Warwick Medical School, Warwick University
February 17, 2011

This book offers a good insight into the myriad issues involved in working with substance misusers.

Mr Chris Yianni
Sch of Health, Psychology & Soc Care, Manchester Metropolitan University
December 15, 2010

Not sepecific for the units i teach on

Mrs Michele Board
Please select your department, Please select your institution
November 22, 2010

This is a general text book that reiterates many of the basic and ongoing issues relative to understanding the past and current thinking in the Drug and Alcohol field. Whilst dissapointing in the sense that this might be seen as a lost opportunity to reconsider contemporary thinking amongst practitioners it does bring the newcomer to the field an insight to the abstinence v controlled use stance, hence I would recommend it to my students on that basis.

Mr Tony Ford
Division of Mental Health & Learning Disability, Northumbria University
November 17, 2010

This is a really useful book that gives a great insight into working with substance misusers. Not essential reading as my students are midwives and therefore not all the content is relevant to their practice

Mrs Claire Hooks
Child and Family Health, Anglia Ruskin University
October 13, 2010

This text explore the evidence to aid understanding and working with drug users.

I am going to use it as an example of using evidence to support care delivery with this group.

Dr Rob Monks
Dept of Nursing, Central Lancashire University
September 17, 2010

An excellent new book about substance abuse issues. It covers the legal framework and brings the issues up to date, with all the latest theories and ideas. An excellent addition to our library.

Mr Neil Robdale
Occupational therapy, Glyndwr University
September 17, 2010

Not core but useful background reading for all students working in primary care

Ms Judy Wayman
School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of East Anglia
September 14, 2010

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Paperback
ISBN: 9781847872623
£35.99

Hardcover
ISBN: 9781847872616
£111.00

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